Vegas Weekender: Vegas parties like it’s 2010

It’s New Year’s Eve and the party has already started in Vegas. Whether you’ll be here tonight or can’t make it in until later, there’s plenty of stuff to do. Check out this round up of the weekend’s events and see if you can think of a better way to kick off a new decade (that’s a trick, there’s no better place to start 2010).

NYE

Party like it’s 2010, because it almost is

Nearly every nightclub in town is throwing a New Year’s bash. Here’s some of the spots with special guests (and a few where the special guest is you):

Break out the Ed Hardy for a Dec. 31 bash at Christian Audigier at Treasure Island, hosted by Shwayze.

It’s not quite heaven, but it sure looks like it at Pure at Caesars Palace, with special New Year’s Eve guest 50 Cent.

How can tonight be anything but a good, good night with Black Eyed Peas hosting at LAX at Luxor?

There’s nothing like that new club smell, take it all in at the grand opening and New Year’s Eve party at Eve at the Crystals at CityCenter, hosted by Eva Longoria Parker.

If you had a genie a bottle, you’d probably wish for a New Year’s kiss. See if Christina Aguilera can’t help you out as she helps ring in 2010 at Tao in the Venetian.

It’s way more than the simple life inside Lavo at the Palazzo, with special guest Nicole Richie.

Dancing on a bar seems like an appropriate way to start a new decade, take your shot at Coyote Ugly at New York-New York.

See the whole city celebrate from more than 50 stories up at VooDoo Lounge at the Rio.

It’s a fancy night at Blush at Wynn for New Year’s Eve High Society – an upscale New Year’s party.
Stay right in the center of the action at I-Bar at Rio.

If your New Year’s resolution is to learn a new skill, why not make it flair bartending? Carnaval Court, next to Harrah’s, will give you something to aim for.

It’s a “French Affair” from Ciroc Vodka and Red Bull at Risqué at Paris.

Do we even have to explain how it would bode for your year if you started at a place tricked out like a 19th century French bordello? Hit up CatHouse at Luxor to find out for yourself.

Not looking for a frilly celebration? Rockhouse Bar and Nightclub keeps it strictly rock ‘n’ roll, with guitar-shaped drinks and a killer music selection.

For a night that’s all about you, the grand opening of Vanity at the Hard Rock Hotel is sure to cater to your every whim.

Shows

Let Las Vegas entertain you and make you smile

If you’re more in the mood to be entertained than to be the entertainment (meaning no pole dancing for you), here’s just a sampling of shows this weekend:

Ne-Yo performs 9 p.m on New Year’s Day at the Pearl at the Palms. It’ll be “so sick,” right?

Family Stone performs Jan. 1 and 2 at the Orleans (8 p.m.). There’s no better way to set the tone for the year than by dancing to the music.

David Spade is at the Venetian Jan. 1 and 2 at 9 p.m. Laugh away the fact that you didn’t get that New Year’s kiss you were hoping for (or, if you landed it, take that special someone on a date).

Bette Midler is at Caesars Palace Jan. 2 – 3 at 7:30 p.m. Greet 2010 with all the hits from the People’s Diva.
John Mayer Trio performs New Year’s Eve at the Joint at the Hard Rock. If you don’t have a date, this concert is the perfect place to find someone whose body is a wonderland.

Holidays

Don’t say goodbye to the holidays quite yet

Some of Sin City’s best holiday attractions stay open through this weekend and then they’re gone until next year. Check them out while you’ve got the chance:

Enjoy a lights and cactus showcase at Ethel M. Chocolate Factory. Through Jan. 1, guests can meander through a cactus-lined pathway and admire almost 300 different species of cactus adorned with more than half a million lights. The garden is open nightly from sundown to 10 p.m. The chocolate factory is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Mystic Falls at Sam’s Town, a 25,000-sqaure-foot indoor park, features various scenes with animated animals and a light and water show choreographed to holiday music. The free 15-minute show takes place at 6, 8 and 10 p.m. daily, but the features can be enjoyed all day through Jan. 2, 1010.

Magical Forest at Opportunity Village, located at 6300 W. Oakey Blvd., features an enchanted forest of decorated trees and various holiday themed displays, photos with Santa, nightly entertainment and a train that winds its way through the two-acre display. This attraction is open daily through Jan. 2, 2010. Hours of operation are 5:30 to 9 p.m. Sun. – Thu.; 5:30 to 10 p.m. Fri. – Sat.

Fremont Street Experience is home to Las Vegas’ official Christmas tree. The 50-foot tree stands under the 12.5 million lights of the Viva Vision screen. Enjoy the display and free live entertainment by Candy & The Canes nightly throughout December at 7:30, 8:30 and 9:30 p.m.

This year, the waterfall atrium at Palazzo is home to an Arctic-inspired winter wonderland display. It features a 16-foot tall polar bear mother and a six-foot tall polar bear baby made of 10,000 specially-developed “Polar Bear” white poinsettias. This free attraction will be on display through the New Year.

Get lost in a dazzling winter wonderland at Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. It features eight flying reindeer, a 42-foot Shasta fir ornamented with twinkling lights, giant 13-foot-tall peppermint sticks and a 7-foot-tall custom built rocking horse. This awe-inspiring attraction is on display through Jan. 2.